I believe that making healthy food choices, consistently exercising, building positive relationships, filling our lives with meaningful work, embracing a resilient mindset and setting goals promote well-being and overall health. Our quest is to find the ideal mix of the above ingredients to sustain a high level of optimal wellness (the ability to sustain positive routines). Regardless of the goal, the process to move forward is the same. Let’s take a look at the power 5 ingredients to success:

1. MINDSET

Having a positive mindset is like the special sauce you add to a good meal that brings everything together and makes it fabulous. Specifically, a growth mindset is key to sustainable change and following through with a goal. Here are the qualities you will need according to Carol Dweck, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist and author of Mindset, who has studied achievement and success for decades:

The ability to:

* Embrace challenges
* Persist in the face of setbacks
* See effort as the path to mastery
* Learn from criticism.

What can you do to have a winning mindset?

2. GOALS

People are frequently intimidated by setting goals and holding themselves accountable – and it makes a lot of sense. Declaring to friends or co-workers that you are going to accomplish something puts you on the line. Sonya Lyubomirsky in her book The How of Happiness offers compelling scientific research to support the theme that “people who strive for something personally significant, whether it’s learning a new craft, changing careers, or raising moral children, are far happier than those who don’t have strong dreams or aspirations. Find a happy person, and you will find a project.” Her research leads to six benefits of committed goal pursuit:

1. Provides a sense of purpose
2. Gives us something to work for and to look forward to
3. Enhances our self-esteem, stimulating us to feel confident and efficacious
4. Adds structure and meaning to our daily lives
5. Helps us learn to master our use of time and to identify priorities and divide into smaller steps as necessary
6. Promotes social connections which can be happiness inducing in the process of engaging with other people

The first layer of setting goals is to use the SMART goal formula:

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely

Now here’s the twist. The reality is you can set a strategically good goal that is not the right goal. Meaning, it doesn’t resonate. For example, a SMART goal could be that a client will lose 10 pounds by December 2010 by working out three times a week for 30 minutes and eating organic food. On the surface, that’s potentially a great goal. The issue is that losing weight may not be the true goal and having greater energy and confidence may be the driver. I encourage all my clients to dig a little deeper and move to the next level and ask tough questions to find a goal that rings true. The next time you set goals take a moment and ask yourself why it’s important? How much of a priority is it to accomplish the goal on a scale of 1 to 10? And what will success look like?

3. ACTION PLAN

Words are one thing but setting the process in motion is a whole new game. Too many people set goals and think the process will move forward naturally. The toughest part is to set goals and then craft an action plan that is doable, timely and harmonious with the stated goals. I encourage clients to think in time frames such as 30 day, three month and six month periods to gain direction and forward momentum. And most importantly, write down your plan and put it on a whiteboard so you have clarity on your next steps.

4. SMALL STEPS

Small steps are such an important part of this process. The irony is that small steps lead to quantum leaps, which people often doubt. It’s much easier to take three small steps even though it seems more natural to take one big step. Small steps are key to building confidence, de-cluttering the mind, gaining momentum and helping us adjust to the change process. We are trained to think big with an all or nothing approach but change happens one step at a time. We often get “stuck” when we think in big ideas and get overwhelmed. The question to ask is what is sustainable given your current lifestyle? The next time you set out to read an entire book in one sitting, start by reading a chapter or even a paragraph. Quantum leaps occur by taking small steps, being consistent and building confidence.

5. RESILIENCY into SOLUTIONS

Resiliency is crucial in the mix to successfully overcome one hurdle after the next. After setting a goal, people have very high motivation levels. Then a few days go by and new ideas and priorities settle in and all of a sudden the motivation level dramatically levels off unless the goal is a high priority. The dash of resiliency helps us bounce back when we hit a roadblock. This is where solutions come in. I encourage my clients to match obstacles with solutions. Most people list obstacles and stay parked at a red light. As soon as you hit an obstacle, spend the next 90% of your time focusing on solutions (per Tony Robbins) and 10% on the problem. Focusing on the solution will channel your energy to move the process forward which is what we want. Remember, the only thing we have control over is how we react to a problem.

The Power 5 can be used to pursue any goal in all areas of your life. It’s helpful to leverage your core strengths and apply those to areas that need additional love and attention. Perhaps it’s time to revamp a goal you’ve had for a while and toss some of these suggestions into your mix. Good luck and have fun!

Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in YOUR Top 1%. She works with managers, C-suite executives and teams to leverage strengths, shift beliefs and achieve meaningful goals. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked with Ross Stores, Petco, BNP Paribas, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Brookfield Property Partners, Neutrogena, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dress for Success. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and follow her on Facebook

I have yet to find a path worth pursuing that does not have some obstacles. I was playing a father daughter tennis tournament in San Diego and I hurt my back and went to see the athletic trainer on site. She was a very sweet and smart Asian woman from the University of San Diego. She had a 3.8 grade point average and you could tell she was a winner. We started talking about her career and she shared that she loves to work with athletes so she wanted to be a trainer. I asked what she really wanted to do and her eyes lit up as she said, “a doctor.” I asked what was holding her back from pursuing her dream and she said money. What I know for sure is that any path this girl takes will have obstacles. This is not to down play real financial obstacles but the point is choosing a path that you think is “easy” does not necessarily have fewer obstacles. It just has different obstacles. So whether you choose to become an athletic trainer, physical therapist, nurse or doctor you will have obstacles the entire journey.

I share this story because we all have dreams and often we talk ourselves out of something because there is a big ugly obstacle standing in your way. What gets you over obstacles is having clarity and pursuing a goal that is meaningful to you. Obstacles seem scarier than they really are. One helpful rule of thumb is to think about what you really want to achieve and then figure out a way to deal with the obstacles. If you focus on the obstacles first you will have a hard time starting anything. Give yourself a chance and pursue what you really want. You’re closer than you think.

If you’re wondering, my dad and I made it to the semi-finals of the tournament!

Thanks for reading.

Alissa

About Alissa

Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in YOUR Top 1%. She works with managers, C-suite executives and teams to leverage strengths, shift beliefs and achieve meaningful goals. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked with Ross Stores, Petco, BNP Paribas, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Brookfield Property Partners, Neutrogena, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dress for Success. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and follow her on Facebook

The Investor’s Business Daily has studied leaders and successful people to produce these 10 secrets for success to turn your dreams into reality. They share stories each day to highlight one of these traits. I love these type of tips because regardless of where you are in your life right now, you can be successful and reach your dreams. It starts by believing in yourself. Read through the tips and see which ones you already do and which ones could be helpful to weave into your daily rituals. Would be interested to hear feedback on which ones you like and what else you would add to the list.

1. How you think is everything: Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2. Decide upon your true dreams and goals: Write down specific goals, develop a plan to reach them.
3. Take action: Goals are nothing without action. Don’t be afraid to get started. Just do it.
4. Never stop learning: Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills.
5. Be persistent and work hard: Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.
6. Learn to analyze details: Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus your time and money: Don’t let other people or things distract you.
8. Don’t be afraid to innovate; Be different: Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. Deal and communicate with people effectively: No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate.
10. Be honest and dependable; Take responsibility: Otherwise, Nos. 1-9 won’t matter.

About Alissa

Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in YOUR Top 1%. She works with managers, C-suite executives and teams to leverage strengths, shift beliefs and achieve meaningful goals. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked with Ross Stores, Petco, BNP Paribas, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Brookfield Property Partners, Neutrogena, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dress for Success. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and follow her on Facebook

I love stretch goals and here’s why. It takes just as much effort to aim high as it does to aim low. And the amazing part is you might just achieve your stretch goal.

A stretch goal is anything that makes you reach a little higher. Just to clarify, it does not mean that you have to be #1 or the best in whatever you do. It means producing your personal best and going for something that you might not have thought possible.

A few examples:

1. You start your own business (which is a great accomplishment alone) — why not decide to start a business and be recognized as a leader in your industry. Both require vision and planning.

2. You enjoy being a lawyer but dislike the commute and office politics. Why not set a stretch goal to work part of the time from home? You might even be more productive and you will definitely have more time for yourself. It might just happen if you present a compelling case. I know it has worked for clients.

3. Your goal could be to publish a book. A stretch goal would be to publish a book that is on the NY Times Bestseller List. The point is either way you have to write the book and put in the time and effort so why not aim a little higher.

4. I started doing triathlons in 2007 and in 2009 I set a stretch goal to complete my first half-ironman competition. And you know what – I did it because I set my sights a little higher.

One important note, it’s ok if you do not achieve your entire stretch goal. Chances are you will be much further along than if you set an average goal.

Bottom Line: You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve if you give yourself the room to run.

“A mind dominated by positive emotions becomes a favorable abode for the state of mind known as faith.” – Napoleon Hill

Believe in yourself,

Alissa

About Alissa

Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in YOUR Top 1%. She works with managers, C-suite executives and teams to leverage strengths, shift beliefs and achieve meaningful goals. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked with Ross Stores, Petco, BNP Paribas, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Brookfield Property Partners, Neutrogena, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dress for Success. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and follow her on Facebook